China Approves 197 Games in July Batch, Largest Monthly Release in Years

On July 24, the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) approved 197 games for publication, comprising 193 domestic titles and 4 imports, marking the largest single-batch approval in recent years, according to local media reports.

China's gaming sector is experiencing multiple tailwinds ahead of ChinaJoy 2026 (July 31–August 3) and the China International Game Developers Conference (July 28–30). Citic Securities noted that consistent version number issuance signals stable supply-side momentum, with mobile games remaining dominant and new formats like VR gaining traction. Industry analysts including Citi and Guotai Kaiyuan believe steady approval rates and product pipelines from major publishers—Tencent, NetEase, Giant Networks, and Kaiyou—support continued healthy sentiment through 2026. First-half earnings reports from multiple gaming firms show profit growth rates exceeding 50%, with established IP franchises delivering stable cash flows.